Gavin Christopher

MD: What convinced you to write with this unknown singer called Mariah Carey?

Gavin: I was so impressed with her personality and voice that I jumped at the chance to work on some songs with Mariah. We made a schedule to get together at least twice a week. We began working on some ideas that Mariah had.

MD: When did you first become aware of her?

Gavin: I was first introduced to Mariah by her brother Morgan when she was 15 years old. Morgan had asked me to listen to his sister and tell him what I thought about her voice. I immediately walked into my living room after hearing her voice and told Morgan that his sister was going to be a huge success some day.

MD: Did you ever think this teenage girl you were working with would one day become a superstar?

Gavin: Yes! I knew immediately. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to work together very long. Maybe a few months at the most. But, it was the most rewarding.

MD: How did the writing process usually start? Did Mariah come up with something first, or did you?

Gavin: I had a small writing studio in my flat in New York. Mariah's mother Pat would bring her to the house. We would spend a few hours at a time working on ideas for songs.

MD: Where did you usually write together?

Gavin: In my apartment on 23rd Street in New York, where I was living with Clarissa Dane, who became one of Mariah's closest friends.

MD: Did you have set writing times or was it spontaneous?

Gavin: We were very spontaneous.

MD: Did Mariah usually write from her own experiences, or from things she saw going on around her?

Gavin: Well, from what I gathered, it was her own experiences and influences from artists like Stevie Wonder, who gave Mariah the inspiration to become who she is today.

MD: Did Mariah have a specific genre in mind for her songs or did you help guide her way?

Gavin: I think that initially we just had a few songs we were working on with no specific genre in mind. We were co-writing. So, there was a bit of guidance on my part. But, I think Mariah already knew who she was and where she wanted to go. That is where she went straight to the top.

MD: About how many songs did you and Mariah work on together? Do you have any favorites amongst those?

Gavin: Maybe two or three at the time. One I remember the most was the song titled "I Can't Hold It Back".

MD: You were the one that introduced Mariah to Ben Margulies, who Mariah wrote most of her first album with. How did that come about?

Gavin: Ben was my drummer in a band in Santa Cruz, California. After working with Herbie Hancock on several albums, I was playing at a club when Ben introduced himself to me and asked me if I wanted to sing in his band. I said yes and we played together for short while in California. I then moved to New York to pursue my career further. Then, Ben moved to New York and set up a small studio in his house and began writing. I am not sure, but Mariah and Ben first met at my apartment. Few years later, they started writing together. One day, I came home to a message on my machine. It was a recording of "Vision Of Love". They were excited that they had gotten a budget to work on Mariah's record. The rest is history.

MD: What do you think the world should know about Mariah Carey?

Gavin: Mariah is a truly gifted human individual, who has given the world a voice that is one of the great voices of the century. There will never be another like her. She is the one of a kind. I think we should all grateful that we have someone like her to soothe our souls with wonderful sound and grace. Thank you Mariah. I am happy to be a part of your story.

Gavin Christopher is currently living in Los Angeles and working on several projects. He is also a contributing member for the band Aquabox. Their album release, "The Evolution Will Not Be Televised", is available for purchase from amazon.com.

(Mariah Daily)